World Cup 2006

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[Carpe Diem]

Nokia, now Eriksson, 3 singdollar per minute...

Eric, I think you have a DEEP problem with handphones... Anything happened to you when you were 4 or 5, may be?

[Baron Greenback]

Eric did you phone home on your Ericson?

(bad, bad pun - sorry)

I was very impressed by Rooney the other night, he has an amazing understanding of space on the pitch, and a flair that could almost be South American - perhaps it is his vision on the pitch or his stature but he reminds me of Gazza in his prime.

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[superedge]

just a little break in the discussion. Are you guys following the election for the 2005 world best soccer player?

7 candidates are brazilians.
Robinho, Cafu, Kaká, Adriano, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho Gaucho

Ronaldo should not be among the best, neither Beckham, neither Henry.

For me, this prize is almost a joke. They should change the prize name. It should be called Best Soccer Player in Europe 2005

IMHO, this year noone was better than Ronaldinho Gaucho, maybe Eto or Robinho was but Rob was playing in Brazil mostly the year, so nobody saw it.

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[superedge]

Not an easy one Edge, but bear in mind that the excellence of a player should also be compared to the level of the league or competition he is playing in. I am not gonna say the Brazilian competition is not good, I have seen a few matches live myself back some years ago, but it is at the most competitive leagues where the best will excel.

For me without doubt Ronaldinho is the best of the best, I also agree with your choice for Eto, a wonderful player and always scoring.

And then again, most of the times it is either the strikers or the attacking midfielders (Ronaldinho), who get the honours, but defenders like Vieira who is of outstanding class, never get the prizes.

I always find it a dubious competition, like you said, Beckham and Ronaldo are far far away from the world's best players...

I don't think anyone can oppose Ronaldinho though. (maybe that Swedish reporter, he will probably say Ibrahimovic or Larsson is the best in the world... )

Eric

Indeed a hard topic. But seriously...you do not find the EPL a good championship really, do you ?

Mostly of them are IMHO average pro players, but EPL it is a REALLY well organized championship, and because a lot of money flows there you can see some teams with some first class players.

I follow EPL in Singapore mostly because I love soccer and somehow I identify myself with Arsenal
But I hate the lack of dribbling, the long kicks and the 'run as crazy in the field'

anyway...we were talking about world cup sorry

[Wild Rover]

Eric did you phone home on your Ericson?

(bad, bad pun - sorry)

I was very impressed by Rooney the other night, he has an amazing understanding of space on the pitch, and a flair that could almost be South American - perhaps it is his vision on the pitch or his stature but he reminds me of Gazza in his prime.

I bet Rooney's just hoping he doesn't get the same treatment on the pitch that Gazza had to suffer..................................

[Baron Greenback]

Unless of course it was by a granny

I remember a match where Paul Ince had a head injury & had a bandage around his head, Gazza was quoted later as saying he looked like a pint of guiness! Gazza had a bit of a one track mind - booze booze & more booze.

What can you say to a guy who's best friend is called 5 bellies? Oh & that awful song he did...fog on the tyne! ghastly

Great footballer though - his wonderful volley against Scotland was just genius.

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[Shilo2010]

I understand how seriously many of you take your soccer / football.
Especially the Europeans amongst you. I am not putting it down, I know it’s a great game with a massive following right around the world and I am just speaking for myself here.
I don’t get it. I mean I get the rules, or most of them but find I just cant get excited about it. The company I work for is the major sponsor for Queensland soccer. It’s a state thing but very big here. I was informed recently that our local field alone has over forty thousand people through it every weekend in season and that’s just a regional country center. For the last three years I have represented my company at the grand finals. It’s quite a big deal, all the Newspapers and TV crews are there and I don’t know how many spectators. I get box seats and all the free food I can eat and grog I can drink. At the end of the grand final game I walk out onto the field (usualy fairly drunk)with the owner of my company and stand there like a real di-ck head and hand him the medals so he can put them on the players necks and give them the trophy. The flashes go off, the people cheer and the next day I’m the dork standing behind and to the left of the people the photos where really meant for. I despise these nights so much I told my boss last month I wasn’t doing it this year.

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[Shilo2010]

lol, ok Eric, I will try.

If you convert me.............do you go to soccer heaven ?

[superedge]

lol, ok Eric, I will try.

If you convert me.............do you go to soccer heaven ?

I left the heaven about 9 years ago, Eric has been there before as I imagine

Shilo, if you play one game with forum-people like me, eric, fuz and the locals you will understand the soccer fever.

[Vaucluse]

Shilo, I guess it's a matter of what you are brought up with. Football is steeped in tradition and you follow the club that you were around at a tender age. It's played at school, in junior teams and the whole kit and kaboodle ends up with the World Cup.
Just think of the State of Origin series and you'll understand the euphoria.

I was brougt up with Football/soccer in Europe, then Cricket and Rugby Union in Australia = love all three of them! (Doesn't help that my wife is an All Blacks/canterbury flippo)

Learn the rules and you will understand more of the game - keep your fingers crossed that Australia will beat Uruguay this time to make it to Germany next year.